MORE ANSWERS TO PAINT COLOR QUESTIONS....

Can I just say 'thank you' to my readers and followers?  Your comments and questions keep me on my toes and make me feel like I'm contributing a little bit!  I hope I am helping you make your homes a little more liveable with better wall color choices! That would totally make my day!   



Hooked on Houses
Pink bedroom



So, along those lines, 

Some color question‏s from readers:

QUESTION #1

I am redoing my living room and I am stuck on paint colors. I formerly had a Benjamin moore bisque (goldish)  color on the wall and lots of reds and natural decor. I need a major change and I am thinking of Blues, greys or taupes for paint colors. The room is an open floor plan so it connects with the kitchen and dining area. All have white trim and I have black dining furniture and beige butter leather couches.


reader's photo

I have  reddish cherry cabinets and a glass tiles backsplash which is browns, greens, golds, beiges. Granite is a brownish tones.  I am looking to get away from the reds and oranges.  I also have a corner fireplace which I am not liking right now! and two huge double sliding glass doors which I need to figure out  a new window covering plan for. 

reader's photo

reader's photo

...I saw storm and it looked nice. Not sure if I should go with a taupe or grey with the cherry wood or a blue. I also considered two different shades like a taupe and a blue but cant figure out what walls to do what color.  Do you have any suggestions for me. I am desperate!  Your blog is so awesome! 

Barb

Thank you Barb.  I'm glad you are enjoying the blog.  

The colors in your home and  your wood tones work well with many colors.  I'm not sure these photos all read as one large space, or if the living room is separate - if it is one big space visible from the other rooms - choose one color to unify your decor.  I'd choose a neutral, with a color undertone - like a gray with a hint of blue or green, or a beige with a gray undertone, and look to your back splash for color inspiration.  
The white trim will be beautiful against a cool neutral
and the warmth of the wood and back splash will provide a nice contrast. 
 Benjamin Moore's palette has a lot to choose from.  



Vale Mist / Benjamin Moore
Casa Sugar 



For a green undertone, try Vale Mist.  There appears to be a little green in your back-splash and this may blend well, if the colors are accurate.



Vale Mist / Benjamin Moore
Casa Sugar



Try a sample pot of Benjamin Moore's Morning Dew  for another gray with a green undertone

Morning Dew/Benjamin Moore

or Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray for a good gray beige that is not too dark. 



Edgecomb Gray / Benjamin Moore



 If you like a gray with a blue tone, try Winter Solstice (also Benjamin Moore) which would be best in the living room (if it is a separate room) as it probably wouldn't blend as nicely with the back-splash colors.   

Winter Solstice/Benjamin Moore

I find it best to paint two coats (let dry between) on heavy foam core or poster board, leaving a 2" border of white, to put on the wall for a color sample. 


The poster board allows you to move it around the room and experience it in different light, and the border keeps the current wall color from interfering with the new color.  And remember that the pictures you see here are probably not 100% accurate in color - it all depends on camera and available light - so it is essential to try samples in your actual room.  Good luck!

QUESTION #2
I love your site!! You have the best suggestions! I have a question: we have a brand new house and I don't know what colors to paint the walls!
We just painted the kitchen with Sherwin Williams Studio Taupe and we love it!

But now we don't know what color to paint the living room and hallway! We don't want to use the Studio Taupe in the living room because we want to go a little lighter! We have white trim and doors and white mantel for the fireplace!! Do you have any suggestions? Thanks so much!!

Well, first of all thanks for reading and I hope I can help.  I love your Studio Taupe wall color.  So many colors will go beautifully with that hue. One to try that is a little lighter than the Studio Taupe and should blend well is Sherwin Williams Amazing Gray (shown here in two different times to see the way it changes)

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In the beige/gray family - a lighter color in the same family as the Studio Taupe would be

 Sherwin Williams Ramie. 

As always, try samples in the room before deciding on the paint color, as photos can be very different than the actual light you experience in your home.

QUESTION #3

What would you say for a grayed down or 'dirtied' color yellow or gold would in S. W. paint? thank you. 

My 'go to' color for a gold neutral is Dunn Edwards Golden Gate.  If I had to choose one in Sherwin Williams paint palette, my favorite would be Whole Wheat.

QUESTION #4

HELP! I'm losing my mind trying to pick out a color. I really want a grey paint that will work with a beige couch with blank threads and Crate and Barrel rug that has a kaki background with blue, greens, browns and black. It's a small apartment so I wanted to use various tones of the same color. I'm thrown off trying to figure out if I match the upholstery and rug tone ( a greige or green color) or find a compliment. Any ideas? 

 Don't match your paint to your furniture.  A true neutral will allow them to stand out, and recede to the background.  Try complimentary colors, not exact matches, for example: since you have blue and browns and khaki in your rug, try a grey with those undertones.  Here are some examples:



grayed down Khaki - Benjamin Moore [Castleton Mist]





gray/beige Benjamin Moore [Bleeker Beige]

grayed down blue/green Benjamin Moore [October Mist]





grayed down blue Benjamin Moore [Nightingale]

I hope you can find the right color for your room!

Best wishes,

 

MORE PROGRESS - Guest Bath and 80's Abolished

PROGRESS!!!

Entry and Staircase:

Built in the late 80's - with little or no updates made

the windows were all basic tract home construction finish

you know - no sills, no moldings

always one of the first things I recommend be changed

that and adding crown and base moldings

(Before - entry and staircase)

(Before - entry living room)

so we framed out the doors, added deep crown molding and base moldings

and framed the windows

so much better!

T

The entry has a new elegant light fixture, beautiful hardwood flooring, freshly framed windows and a new coat of paint.

(still to do - re-stain the door a deeper brown, add new hardware 

and add millwork to the top of the pony wall)

in the 80's and early 90's, everything was oak

but that heavy grain and yellow/orange finish was such a dated look

and really didn't go with the planned decor

so the yellow oak staircase was updated to a warm dark brown

with fresh white spindles

an 80's brass and glass fixture used to hang here and in the entry
I think the contractors who built these tracts got a volume discount
so the regularly priced $30 fixture was an economical $10 or so
and they looked it
but now there is a new beautiful fixture hanging in the entry and landing

and new carpet on the stairs..

GUEST BATHROOM PROGRESS...
Started out as a typical construction grade vanity - in oak
and a plain white tub and shower surround
with metal framed sliding shower enclosure

the granite has this wonderful blend of all the chocolate, beige and gray tones

we are using throughout the house

noce travertine in the versailles pattern is on the floor

glass tile in browns and tan runs through the travertine shower

and repeats on the tub surround and pulls the darker brown from the vanity into that area.

I recommend doing a tub surround to dress up a boring standard tub

and bring a custom look to the room

freshly painted

with a brushed nickel light fixture installed

custom mirror frame to match the custom vanity
and no hint of the 80's - no
none at all!

the shower has a new

frameless glass enclosure

frameless glass allows you to see to the back wall

unobstructed - and the benefits are two fold

1 - all that beautiful stone or tile work is visible

2 - seeing to the far wall expands the room - making it feel larger

the beautiful granite countertop and backsplash has been installed

as well as a new sink and brushed nickel faucet

I love the squared off look of this faucet

the finishing touch

is the cabinet and drawer hardware

like the jewelry of the room

all done, except for the accessories!

What do you think?

HELPING MARY : CHOOSING AN ADULT LAVENDER

Claudine~ I keep coming back to your lovely blog for ideas and viewing your photos. They are indeed awesome. I am trying to decide what color to paint our master bedroom. We had it professionally ainted last week with Sherwin williams "Enchant - 6555" but it's way too bright for us. 

Sherwin Williams/Enchant

We have cathedral ceiling with white ceiling and trim and our bedroom furniture is a dark wood finish they refer to as "tobacco finish" it's the Paula Deen "Steel Magnolia" bed and matching furniture....we have beige carpets. The master bath is Sherwin Williams "Virtual Taupe -7039" 

Sherwin Williams/Virtual Taupe

and our Great room, right outside the bedroom is Sherwin Williams "Lemon Chiffon - 6686"

Sherwin Williams/Lemon Chiffon

I've looked at Restoration Hardware's "Slate" and "Granite" I've also looked at griege-esque colors and more tan-taupe; but I think that's too close to my master bath color. I would like to find a mid-gray color with a hint of lavender or purple hue for a more contemporary yet sensual relaxing feel. or I would like to make it very polished and elegant. Can you please give me some suggestions? We have 

the painters coming back out on the 10th and I need to have a color picked out by then. Thanks, ~Mary

Hi Mary,

Don't fret.  Most of us are overwhelmed when choosing paint color.   But here's a rule of thumb when working with most color choices - avoid too much pigment - go for a grayed down or 'dirtied' color 

with a subtle undertone in the color you wish to showcase in your room.  Walls with too much true pigment tend to look a little juvenile.  The grayed down versions are a little more sophisticated and easier on the eye   For a truly adult shade of lavender, try these:

Alpaca/Sherwin Williams

 Here are a few more 'subtle' colors with purple or lavendar undertones.   As always, try a swatch on the wall first - you never know how it will look in the room until you do. (In your case with the vibrant 'Enchant' on your walls, paint it on a poster board with a good 2-inch border of white around the edge - so the wall color won't interfere.

Heather/Sherwin Williams

High Society/Sherwin Williams

Neutrino/Sherwin Williams

Palisade/Sherwin Williams

Requisite Gray / Sherwin Williams

Twilight Gray / Sherwin Williams

You said you had white moldings and dark furniture - to bring that polished and sophisticated feel into your room, add a little bling: some reflection - mirrored surfaces or silver will work nicely, and some glass or crystal touches will add a little romance.  Good Luck!

las vegas wedding - the good photos

I posted a while back

on our Las Vegas wedding adventure

and promised to post the GOOD photos when they were ready

so, here they are, courtesy of the adorable bride

I believe I mentioned my son was Best Man, and that they had a rather unique entry to the reception after the wedding....

after the bridesmaids and groomsmen entered

the newlywed couple made their entry

and then. . .

the wedding party broke in to spontaneous, pre-rehearsed dance

they had so much fun!

here are some 'good' photos of the decorations...

we made the centerpieces with these wonderful fall hydrangeas

their colors were amazing...

we brought them with us from California, and we were so glad that we did as

we found flowers are very expensive in Las Vegas because they have to truck everything in

they are at least 3X the cost !

we put a large vinyl monogram on the dance floor

Here is the hall all prepared and awaiting guests

at the Bride and Groom's table

we used lower arrangements

so we could see them!

these photos show the colors

so much better than the ones I took here

We lined the aisle with these lighted floral lanterns for the ceremony

and we created the large urns filled with hydrangeas, twigs

and long plumes of peacock feathers

we added vinyl to the entry doors

I really love adding the personalized vinyl to a reception.

 and we made the feather boutonnieres

 not responsible for the socks, though.....

Best Wishes - Jessica and Erik

and Happy New Year!